Extracted From
Middletown Upper Houses
a history of the north society of Middletown, Ct.
from 1650 to 1800
with genealogical and biographical chapters
on early families.
Charles Collard Adams
New York: Grafton Press, 1908.
[transcribed by Liz Matthews]
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FIFTH GENERATION 40 Dr. Thomas Stow5 Ranney (Jeremiah4, Thomas3, Thomas2, Thomas1), b. May 10, 1744, Upper Houses; m. (1) Feb. 23, 1780, Brentwood, N.H., Hannah Hook, b. 1757, d. July 9, 1796, Brentwood; m. (2) Jan. 3, 1798, Brentwood, Hannah Hook, probably of the same family as that of his first wife. He rem. with his parents to Bethlehem, Litchfleld Co., Ct. A Thomas Ranney served from Litchfield Co., Mar. 23-Dec. 3, 1762, in the French-Indian War. He rem. to Brentwood, N.H., and about 1810 he rem. to Newport, Maine, where he died. He was a physician. Was town clerk many years in Brentwood. Children:
96 Hannah, b. Sept. 4, 1801; m. Samuel Stetson. 97 Thomas Stow, b. Dec. 7, 1810. ___________________ 41 Nathan5 Ranney (Jeremiah4, Thomas3, Thomas2, Thomas1) b. June 20, 1751, Upper Houses; m. (1) Ruth Cole; b. -; d. -, 1816, Whitehall, N.Y.; m. (2) 1819,widow of Charles McArthur of Scotch Hill; d. 1819. Re rem with his parents to Bethlehem, Conn.; in 1804 to Whitehall, N.Y.; in 1817 to Fair Haven, Vt., residing on Scotch Hill, where he d. Jan. 12, 1831. Children:
Thomas Stow, b. -m. Mary Martin of Enosburg; kept tavern in Whitehall; rem. 1823 to Enosburg, where he died, 1834; widow m. Burleigh Davis; her family rem. to Fair Haven, Vt. Children: Mary, Oliver Perry, Helen, Edwin, Althea, Nathaniel, Betsey. (See Appendix.) Ruth, b. 1790; d. June, 1866, Whitehall, N.Y. Martha, b. Aug. 23, 1793; m. Jan. 16, 1818, Levi Reed, rem. to Fair Haven,Vt., where she d. Apr., 1869. Children: Fayette, Nathan Ranney, Helen, Edgar. (See Appendix.) Elizabeth, b. -; d. 1868, Whitehall, N.Y. 98 Nathan, b. Apr. 27, 1797. Philena, b. -; m. Salmon Norton, Jr., rem. to Marcellus, N.Y., where he d. She rem. to Angelica, N.Y., then to Morenci, Mich. Children: Mary and Ellen. 99 Nathaniel Cole, b. 100 Caleb Barnes, b. 1807. ___________________ 42 Solomon5 Ranney (Jeremiah4, Thomas3, Thomas2, Thomas1), b. 1756, Bethlehem, Ct., m. Rebecca Churchill, b. July 20, 1764, Bethlehem, Ct. (Jonathan3, Joseph2, Josiah1, of Wethersfield, Ct. See Churchill Genealogy.) Served in the Rev. War as per app. for pension dated May 4, 1818, from May 1, 1775, nine months; from Aug., 1776, three months; from May, 1778, nine months. He also served in 1782 as per Vol. 8, Conn. Hist. Soc. Rolls. Re rem. before 1818 to Kortright, N.Y., where he died. Children:
A daughter, b. -; m. Mark Morris, rem. to Nelson, 0., where they died. Had one daughter. ___________________ 43 Stephen5 Ranney (Jeremiah4, Thomas3, Thomas2, Thomas1), b. May 24, 1761, Bethlehem, Conn.; m. (1) Apr. 15, 1785, Litchfleld, Conn., Margery Camp, b. Aug. 17, 1763, Bethlehem, Conn.; d. May, 1792, Litchfield, Conn.; m. (2) May, 1795, Rhoda Langdon, b -; d. - 1802; m. (3) 1804, Hannah Cooper, b. -; d. Jan. 11, 1811; m. (4) Oct. 11, 1812, Salem, Mass., Elizabeth Hathorne, b - ; d. Aug. 11, 1822. He died 1827, Jackson, Mo. It is a family tradition that when a boy he was bound out to a deacon, and one of his duties was to feed the swine. The deacon threatened to thrash him, and the boy, preferring to avoid a contest, trudged a number of miles to where General Greene was recruiting, and enlisted. The official record of his service as given by the War Department follows: "Enlisted June 12, 1776 and discharged Jan. 1, 1777, being a member of Capt. Jonathan Johnson's Company, Col. Phillip B. Bradley's Regiment, Connecticut Forces. "He enlisted May 2, 1777, for the war, in Capt. Samuel Mattock's Company, 8th Connecticut Regiment, which had various commanders; transferred January, 1781, to Captain Benton's Company, also designated the 7th Company, 5th Connecticut Regiment, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Sherman; appointed corporal June 1, 1781, transferred August 1, 1872, to Light Infantry Company, same regiment, and transferred November 1, 1782, to the 5th Company, 1st Connecticut regiment, commanded by Colonel Zebulon Butler. His name is last found on the muster roll of the company for the month of April, 1783, dated May 27, 1783, which shows hirn on furlough." He was in the battles of Brandywine, Germantown, Mud Island, Red Bank and others. At Monmouth he received wounds in the leg and hand during the conflict which took place between the British and that part of General Lee's corps which, in pursuance of their order, checked the enemy's advance, and gave time for the American reserve under General Washington to form. For his gallantry in that memorable affair he was presented with a sword by Lafayette. Wlien a war between France and the United States was expected he applied for a commission, reciting his services in the Revolutionary War, and stating that he had conducted a military school in Litchfield, Conn. He was appointed a captain of the l3th United States Infantry, February 13, 1799, and was honorably discharged June 15, 1800. In the political excitement which soon occupied the public attention, Selleck Osborn, editor of The Witness, a Democratic organ, was thrown into prison for the offense of having unduly criticised hie Federal opponents. This attack on the liberty of the press aroused the Democrats of Litchfield County. There was a monster meeting held on July 4, 1806, when it was decided to have a demonstration on Aug. 6. For this gathering Democrats came from all over the county. Cannon were fired at sunrise, and bands rendered martial music. Major Ranney was chief marshal of the parade. When they reached the jail, all bowed in saluting Mr. Osborn. A meeting was then held in the Congregational Church. The following letter explains itself: Litchfield May 23 - 1808 Sir I have served in the Army through the Revolutionary War, two years of which time I did the duty of a drill-sergeant. After the war was concluded I commanded a company of militia in this town and was promoted to the rank of major in the militia, which office I resigned and accepted a captaincy in the late Army raised under President Adams' administration. I have since taught a military school in this town. I am now desirous of obtaining the appointment of major, in the Army to be raised, Should there be no field officer allotted to the State of Connecticut, I will accept that of a captain, on the presumption that my pretention to rank will give me the first captaincy. I have the honnor to be, sir, with due submission, Your humble servant Stephen Ranney. Hona Henry Dearbon Esqr Secretary of War. He was appointed a captain in the 4th United States Infantry, June 18, 1808; promoted major of the same regiment January 20, 1813; lieutenant colonel, same regiment, May 15, 1814; honorably discharged on the reduction of the Army, June 15, 1815. lt is a family tradition that when Hull surrendered Detroit Col. Ranney was away on a foraging expedition with orders to drive the Indians back. On his return, finding that Hull had surrendered, he and his command cut their way through and escaped to the east. He was a principal witness against Hull in his trial later. George Ranney, a brother of Stephen, was killed at Stony Point. Another brother, Solomon, served through the war. A son, Johnson, probably named after Captain Johnson, under whom he first served, was commissioned Lieutenant in 1812 and continued in the 4th Reg. under his father till the army disbanded in 1815. Colonel Ranney's son, William Caton, having been born at Whitehall, N.Y., it is probable that his family was domiciled there with his brother Nathan who had removed from Bethlehem. By 1818 he had become a resident of Indiana where his next son was born. He was appointed Adjutant General of Indiana by Governor Hendricks, and served from Dec. 5, 1822 to Sept. 3, 1823. He then removed to Jackson, Mo., where his son, Johnson, had been settled as a lawyer for some years. His death occurred in 1827 and he was buried with Masonic and military honors. Children by 1st marriage:
Mary, b. Dec. 21, 1787, Bethlehem, Conn. 103 Johnson, b. Dec. 19, 1789, Litchfield, Conn. Stephen, b. Feb., 1792; d. 1794.
Reuel, b. Oct., 1798. Norman, b. - Stephen, Jr., b. June, 1805. Rhoda, b. Sept. 25, 1807. Eliza, b. Sept. 30, 1809. 104 Hannah Cooper, b. Jan. 11, 1811.
105 William Caton, b. Feb. 20, 1815, Whitehall, N.Y. 106 John Hathorne, b. Feb. 5, 1818, Charleston, Ind. Benj. Herbert, b. Mar. 27, 1821; d. Nov. 19, 1821. ___________________ 44 Julius5 Ranney (Jeremiah4, Thomas3, Thomas2, Thomas1), b. 1765, Bethlehem, Ct.; m. -, Jerusha Butler, b. 1768, dau. of Silas5 Butler (Malachi4, John3, John2, Nicholas1) and Jerusha5 Spencer, (Eldad4, Desbrough3, Obadiah2, Thomas1 of Hartford). She built a Cong. Ch. in Danby, N.Y., where she died Mar. 26, 1844.. He was a blacksmith and d. July 12, 1802, Bethlehem, Ct. Children:
107 Polly, b. Sept. 14, 1790; m. Hiram Hawes. Julius, b. Aug. 24, 1792; m. (1) Hannah Dakin, (2) Almira Potter. He was captured in War of 1812, and suffered much. Wanted to go to France and enlist under Napoleon to get even with England; d. Jan. 29, 1852, Dexter, Mich. No children. 108 Lucy, b. July 18, 1794; m. Rev. Urban Palmer. 109 Oliver, b. Sept. 19, 1796. Susan, b. Feb. 28, 1799; m. James Sturges. 110 Thomas Stow, b. Aug. 22, 1802. ___________________ 45 William5 Ranney (Thomas4, Thomas3, Thomas2, Thomas1), b. Sept. 18, 1753, Upper Houses; m. May 13, 1779, Westminster, Vt., Lydia Ranney, his first cousin, b. Apr. 18, 1759, Haddam, Conn., d. June 11, 1825, Westminster West, Vt., dau. of Ephraim Ranney and Silence Wilcox. He served in the Rev. War from Upper Houses, and went to Hartford, Vt., 1777, where he served for a few months. His pension for services from Connecticut was granted Mar. 4, 1731, when he was nearly 80 years of age. He was a deacon of the church in Westminster West, of which his cousin Elijah was the first deacon. He died Feb. 17, 1737. Stone in W. W. churchyard. Children:
111 William, b. June 5, 1784. Elizabeth Wilcox, b. June 19, 1788; d. Nov. 10, 1821; unm. Silence Wilcox, b. Apr. 9, 1791; m. Nov. 15, 1815, John Norton. 112 Stephen, b. Apr. 28, 1793. Achsah, b. Feb. 27, 1796; d. Jan. 21, 1816; unm. ___________________ 46 Ephraim5 Ranney (Ephraim4, Thomas3, Thomas2, Thomas1), b. Oct. 27, 1748, Upper Houses; m. (1) Dec., 1770, Westminster, Vt., Lydia Johnson, b. 1751, d. Feb. 13, 1787; m. (2) Oct. 10, 1790, Rhoda Harlow, b. 1770, d. Sept. 20, 1850, dan. of Eleazar Harlow. He d. May 30, 1835. Ephraim Ranney and other children in 1812 signed an agreement as to the distribution of property and their autographs are copied from that agreement. He was a stalwart man and helped to clear up much land on the bank of the Conn. River, and then was one of the first to cross the ridge and make a settlement in Westminster West. Rev. A. Stevens in his history says: "Ephraim Ranney, Jr., David Heaton and Jotham Holt, about the year 1768, made an opening in the forest on the farm near the present site of the church. They were young men, and for some time messed together in a log-house built by Ranney, a few feet south of the house now occupied by Hon. William B. Cutting (1885). They made their own porridge and ate out of a common dish. Mr. Heaton was a passionate man, and when insulted would leave the house. When the porridge was a little short of their wants Ranney and Holt had only to insult their messmate, and they had the dish all to themselves. This state of things did not long continue. Mr. Ranney brought to the loghouse, in 1770, a wife, and never had any wish, afterwards, to be left alone at the table." He served in the Revolutionary War. He was a captain of militia, a justice of the peace and an innkeeper. In 1805 there was built an inn which is now occupied by Deacon Arthur Patterson Ranney, who is seen sitting on the veranda. About the year 1813 it became the property of Ephraim Ranney, Jr., who kept a store as well as an inn there. "A remnant of his account book for 1815 shows that the good people of the parish were none too temperate. The following is a specimen account, 'Dr. to 1 glass toddy, to 2 toddy, to 3 toddys." The debtor got drunk, and mistook his door, and fell down in the pantry, and pulled down after him two pans of milk, and a pan of lard yet warm from the kettle. He was now ready to make his mark in the world. It was training day and he was too noisy and a little too drunk to be respectable. The captain, Ephraim Ranney, Jr., his neighbor by the way, undertook to get him out of the way. Having exhausted his patience in flattery, and ignorant of the condition of affairs in his pantry, he came to a close hug with the tipsy man, and by a hard struggle shut him up in the barn, when, lo and behold, the captain found his buff pants and vest unfit for a captain to wear during the parade and drill of the day. The original Ephraim Ranney farm is now the home of his descendant, Miss Mary Ranney Cutting, having descended by inheritance. Children by 1st marriage:
114 Lydia, b. Sept. 28, 1772, d. 1858; m. Dea. Ebenezer Goodhue. 115 Rebecca, b. Dec. 27, 1777, d. 1841; m. Gideon Warner. 116 Calvin, b. Nov. 5, 1784.
Peyton, b. Dec. 1, 1799; d. May 28, 1813. 118 Grant Willis, b. Mar. 23, 1804. ___________________ 47 Elijah5 Ranney (Ephraim4, Thomas3, Thomas2, Thomas1), b. Mar. 14, 1750-1; m. (1) Nov. 10, 1771, Elizabeth Root, d. Apr. 12, 1822, aged 82 ;m. (2) July 2, 1822, Tryphena Hitchcock, widow of Heli Hitchcock, d. Mar. 27, 1838. He rem. with his parents, 1761, to Westminster, Vt. In 1771 he made a settlement in the south part of Westminster West on the farm now owned and occupied by his grandson, Henry Porteus Ranney. Like his elder brother, he was tall and stalwart. He served in the Rev. War and in 1783 was a member of the Legislature. Prayer meetings were held and sermons read for years before a church was organized. The first meeting called to consult for the support of the Gospel among themselves was held Jan. 10, 1789, and was "called by Elijah Ranney on petition of the inhabitants of the parish." It was voted "that allowance be made to Ephraim Wilcox for money he had paid to Mr. Bullen for preaching, to be credited to him on the collection bill, to the amount of $11.00." Ephraim Wilcox, his mother's brother, had gone from East Middletown. Elijah Ranney was the first deacon in Westminster West, as his father had been first deacon in Westminster parish. The church was erected in 1792. "It was a high, two-story building fronting on the east; a front door, and one on each side. It was painted white; without a steeple or cupola even; square pews, with high backs; gallery on three sides, filled with young folks every Sabbath, closely watched by a man appointed for that purpose; a moderately high pulpit, a deacons' seat in front of it, occupied, rain or shine, every Sabbath, by the deacons." -(Stevens' History.) The first saw-mill was built by Deacon Elijah. He d. Apr. 29, 1833, aged 83. Children:
120 Joseph, b. Dec. 25, 1779. 121 Elizabeth, b.- -, -; m. Levi Harlow. Silence, b. - -, -, m. Wainwright Witt and rem. to Elyria, 0. ___________________ 48 Daniel5 Ranney (Ephraim4, Thomas3, Thomas2, Thomas1), b. Feb. 5, 1753, Upper Houses, removed 1761 with his father to Westminster, Vt.; m. Oct. 27, 1779, Chester, Vt., Eunice Gile, b. Oct. 27, 1762, Chester, Vt.; d. Mar. 21, 1852, Stockbridge, Vt. He d. Jan. 5, 1833, and is buried in "Ranney Cemetery," Stockbridge, Vt. Moses, the son of Daniel, wrote the following, in substance: "Moses lived with his grandfather, Ephraim, till thirteen years of age and then returned to his father who had removed from Chester to Stockbridge, Vt. Daniel was a recruiting officer for eighteen months. He enlisted to go and defend Ticonderoga but this place was captured before his arrival. His superior officer was Capt. Whitney of the militia rangers, which company disbanded in about a year and a half after its organization. Daniel removed to Chester, where Daniel, Jr., and Esther were born, and then to South Hill, Stockbridge, Vt. Here were born Lucinda, Roswell and Joel. The chef officer of the regiment to which Daniel belonged was Col. Townsend -Capt. Whitney was from Westminster and drew a pension on the testimony of Daniel. "Daniel was an orderly sergeant and spent three days in the week at Westminster drilling the soldiers. He was at the battle of Bennington and was saved from being taken prisoner by Col. Ben. Fellows. At Ticonderoga Capt. George Earl of Chester was his Captain. Daniel was afterwards a Lieut. in the militia when called out, but drew no pension because he had some property." Daniel died in Stockbridge, Vt. Children:
123 Moses, b. Mar. 28, 1783. Eunice, b. Dec. 12, 1784. 124 Mary, b. July 26, 1791; m. Jonathan Holland. Esther, b. Dec. 30, 1793; m. Jan. 24, 1816, Lester Lincoln. Lucinda, b. May 8, 1799. Roswell, b. June 10, 1801; d. Aug. 4, 1803. 125 Joel, b. June 9, 1805. ___________________ 49 Waitstill5 Ranney (Ephraim4, Thomas3, Thomas2, Thomas1), b. Jan. 3, 1762, Westminster, Vt.; m. 1785, Abigail Harlow, b. - -, d. - -, -, dau. of Eleazar Harlow of Taunton, Mass., and Rhoda Alexander of Northfield, Mass. He rem. to Chester, Vt., held many local offices, purchased a tract of 1,000 acres 3 miles from the center, mortgaged it and became embarrassed. When the elder son became of age he assumed the farm and the mortgage, agreeing to support through life his parents, and to pay his brother, Waitstill Randolph, then 16 years of age, one thousand dollars, as he might need, if he would seek a learned profession. The enterprise failing, the elder son removed with his parents to Westport, N.Y., where Waitstill died July 3, 1839. He served in the Rev. War. In a letter written in 1879 by a grandson is this description of Waitstill Ranney: "I remember but little of him. I knew him when I was quite small and remember only one incident about him. That has been fixed in my mind. He visited my father in Townshend when it was customary at family worship to stand up behind the old kitchen chair and pray, and he, being addicted to tobacco chewing, never took out his cud. So during his long prayer he had to stop several times before he got to the "Jews" to step to the old fireplace and spit. His career in life was fraught with hardship, with many ups and downs, and yet he finally died at a good old age. The features of his good wife I cannot recall. But I remember her as a very clever old lady that once amused us boys by saying once when she came to visit us that she 'came in the mail,' meaning stage." Children:
126 Waitstill Randolph, b. May 23, 1791. Abigail, b. Aug. 21, 1796; d. May 26, 1873; m. - Rogers. Amarylla, b. -; d. Feb. 22, 1841; m. David Chandler. Sophia, b. Oct. 1, 1797; m. -Kellogg. ___________________ 50 Esther5 R.anney (Ephraim4, Thomas3, Thomas2, Thomas1), b. July 28, 1764, Westminster, Vt.; m. Oct. 8, 1786, Westminster, Vt., Seth Arnold, b. Sept. 3, 1747, Haddam, Ct. She d. July 11, 1841; he d. July 6, 1849. Seth Arnold was a descendant of Joseph Arnold, one of the Hartford men who in 1662 settled Haddam, Ct. His homestead in Haddam, Ct., was opposite the cemetery, and he owned the land between the cemetery and the Connecticut River, and it is now the property of Judge E. P. Arnold. Seth Arnold had a hard experience in the Revolutionary Army: served three years, was twice taken prisoner, on prison ship nine months. In 1780 he removed to Westminster. His pension was granted Mar. 4, 1831. It will be seen that he lived to be 102 years of age. He made a public profession of religion at 89, and dressed himself the day he died. Her autograph of 1812 is given herewith. Children:
128 Ambrose Tyler, b. Nov. 19, 1790. Esther, b. Sept. 3, 1792; m. (1) John F. Hills; m. (2) Benjamin Smith. 129 Joel Ranney, b. Apr. 25, 1794. Phebe, b. Jan. 29, 1798; m. Isaac Holton. Olivia, b. Oct. 31, 1800; d. July 1, 1812. Abigail, b. Nov. 17, 1804; d. unm., 1869. ___________________ 51 Janna5 Ranney (Ephraim4, Thomas3, Thomas2, Thomas1), b. June 11, 1766, Westminster, Vt.; m. June, 1789, Westminster, Vt., Phebe Phelps, b. July 25, 1768; d. Jan. 1, 1842. His whole life was passed on the homestead his father took up in 1761. As he d. Aug. 18, 1794, his son's signature is given to a deed of settlement of his father's estate in 1812, when all the children except two signed the paper from which the autographs are taken. Children:
Orange, b. Feb. 4, 1793; d. Sept. 9, 1823, New Orleans; m. Elizabeth E. Jacobs. Janna, b. Aug. 18, 1794; m. Hannah Latham. He left Dec., 1818, for New Orleans, where he died. Child: John Latham, b. Aug. 5, 1817; m. 1840, Almeda Dyer Phelps in Canada. ___________________ 52 Joel5 Ranney (Ephraim4, Thomas3, Thomas2, Thomas1), b. Mar. 2, 1768, Westminster, Vt.; m. Rebecca Arnold, b. 1771; d. Jan. 27, 1844. He d. Mar. 25, 1840, Westminster. They adopted Priscilla Farnham, who m. Joseph6 Ranney. ___________________ 53 Benjamin5 Ranney (Ephraim4, Thomas3, Thomas2, Thomas1), b. Sept. 18, 1770, Westminster, Vt.; m. June 26, 1796, Westminster, Martha Gill, b. Mar. 1, 1768; d. Aug. 15, 1844. He d. May 8, 1824. Children:
Ira Allen, b. Mar. 28, 1799; d. July 17, 1843, Plattsburg, N.Y. Angeline, b. Feb. 13, 1801; m. Aaron R. Chase. Elmerina, b. Apr. 3, 1802; d. Jan. 29, 1804. Elmerina, b. Aug. 17, 1805; m. Nathaniel Nutting. Agnes Stella, b. Apr. 26, 1808; d. Feb. 26, 1896. ___________________ 54 James5 Ranney (Willett4, Willett3, Thomas2, Thomas1) b. Feb. 27, 1757, Upper Houses, followed his father to Mass., Lebanon, N.Y., and to Fort Stanwix; m. -; rem., 1806, to Adams, N.Y. He died about 1822, at the residence of his brother Willett, leaving Benjamin, Marinus, Gibbs, Orrin, Mary and Martha, most of whom, it is said, rem. to Canada. ___________________ 55 Seth5 Ranney (Willett4, Willett3, Thomas2, Thomas1), b. Jan. 21, 1761, Upper Houses, rem. with his father, 1776, to Sandisfield, Mass., thence to New Lebanon, N.Y., and by 1786-7 was at Fort Stanwix, now Rome, N.Y. He must have married before then Eleanor Matthews who d. Mar. 12, 1813, aged 50 years. He erected the first two-story frame house in Rome, and in 1792 it was used as a tavern by John Barnard, and in 1793 the first store was opened in it. In this year he was one of the 15 charter members of a Masonic lodge organized and located in the township of Paris-the first lodge in central New York. He was known as "Capt." Seth Ranney, having served in the War of 1812. He resided a few years in Canada, returned to Ogdensburg, and had a farm on the St. Lawrence and kept a hotel. Children:
Lois, b. -; m. Sylvester Gilbert of Ogdensburg. Child: Wm. W. Gilbert. Betsy, b. -; m. James Chambers; rem. to North Carolina. Belinda, b. Dec. 6, 1791; m. Henry Lum; 9 children. Clarissa, b. ; m. (1) David Lum, (2) Josiah Perry. ___________________ 56 Sarah5 Ranney (Willett4, Willett3, Thomas2, Thomas1), b. Jan. 2, 1763, Upper Houses; m. David I. Andrus. The Rev. Samuel Eells, referred to in the appended sketch taken from the Jefferson County Journal of Sept. 6, 1898, was born in Upper Houses. (See the Eells family .chapter.) David Ira Andrus was born in 1766 in the state of Conn., the family of English descent. He enlisted as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, January 1, 1781, to serve as a fifer in the 6th Company, 4th Conn. Regiment, commanded by Col. Zebulon But1er; was transferred to Captain Robertson's company, 2d Conn. Regiment, commanded by Col. Heman Swift, November 1, 1782; served as private March 1, 1783, and his name appears on the rolls to May 26, 1783. Mr. Andrus about the year 1789 went to what now comprises Oneida county, N.Y., to make his home, his outfit for commencing life in the new country being an ax he carried with him. About this time he was married to Sally Ranney, also of a Connecticut family. Eight children were born to them: George, Lydia, Fanny, Almira., Chauncey, Ira, Sally and Samuel. Samuel died at the age of 14 years. A baptismal certificate given by Rev. Samuel Eells, pastor of the Second Church of Christ in Branford, Conn., dated at Steuben, N.Y., Sept. 9th, 1793, reads: "These certify that David Andrews [Andrus] and Sally, his wife, entered into covenant with God and took their baptismal obligations upon themselves, and had their children baptized by the names of George, Lydia and Fanny." In 1790 Mr. Andrus leased and lived on a farm of 138 acres in Wright Settlement, near Rome, and in 1804 carried on a meat shop in what was then Rome village. He visited this section at an early day in company with Daniel Fox who settled in the town of Adams about 1800, and died in 1873 at the age of 102 years. Mr. Andrus in 1799 was a charter member of Roman Lodge, F.A. M., Rome, N.Y. He removed about 1805 to the town of Ellisburg and acted as agent for Col. Samuel Wardwell, of Rhode Island, who had a large landed estate here. He made improvements at Wardwell Settlement, where he settled, and soon after commenced improvements at Andrus Settlement, to which James Constable in his journal of August 8, 1806, refers. Improvements at Little Sandy (Mannsville) were commenced by him as early as 1811, the first saw mill and first dwelling having been built by him. His business interests at Andrus Settlement were extensive. He built the large Andrus hotel about 1812, a two and one-half story wood structure, which was destroyed. by fire in 1890. Mr. Andrus was the proprietor many years and the hotel was a favorite stopping place with the public, the stage line making a change of horses there, and in the thriving hamlet the hotel was the center of much activity. He also built a saw mill and grist mill, distillery, ashery and blacksmith shop, carrying on the several branches of business and employing many men. His farm of 400 acres furnished clay of a superior quality for a brick yard which was in use before the hotel was finished. In company with his oldest son, George, he was in the mercantile business as early as 1810; built the brick store on corner in 1825, which was taken down about 1855. About the year 1812 he built the army barracks at Sackett's Harbor, and in 1817 the Jefferson County bank building at Adams, he being one of the directors of the bank. He was elected Member of Assembly in 1809 and 1812, and sheriff of the county in 1812-1813, and again 1815-1818. His first wife died July 22, 1818, at the age of 55 years. His youngest child, Mary Jane, was born after his marriage to Mrs. Esther Hinman. Mr. Andrus died August 21, 1831, after a few days' illness; at the age of 65 years. She died July 22, 1818, Ellisburg, Jefferson County. Had eight children. Children:
___________________ 57 Sybil5 Ranney (Willett4, Willett3, Thomas2, Thomas1), b. Jan. 7, 1765, Upper Houses; m. (1) Richard Willis of Welsh descent, b. 1760, Pennsylvania, d. 1807, Rome, N.Y.; m. (2) Joseph White, b. Jan. 16, 1761, Upper Houses, who with his father, Capt. Hugh White, had settled Whitestown, N.Y. (See the White family chapter.) He d. June 17, 1827. She d. 1833, Adams, N.Y., at the home of her son Willett Ranney Willis. Children:
130b Delia Ann, b. 1793; m. Wm. Hart of Adams. 131 Willett Ranney, b. Feb. 22, 1799. Sybil Jane, b. -. Henry, b. -; m. -. Daughter is Mrs. (Dr.) Annie Watson, Lexington, Mississippi. ___________________ 58 Willett5 Ranney (Willett4, Willett3, Thomas2, Thomas1), bapt. Aug. 6, 1769, with Benjamin, a twin, Upper Houses, was 7 years of age when his father rem. to Sandisfield, Mass. He m. Oct., 1799, Rome, N.Y., Betsey Robbins, dau. of John Robbins, who came from Bennington, Vt., in 1790. In June, 1790, he leased of Gov. Clinton the 100 acres in "Wright's Settlement," adjoining the 100 acres his brother Seth had leased the previous year, and which was long known as the "Ranney Place." He was to pay one peppercorn each year, if lawfully demanded, for four years, and after that 18 bushels of good winter wheat, on May 1 of each year, in the city of Albany. This lease in 1878 was in the possession of his son Lester. He sublet the lease in 1795 to Cornelius Van Warner, and in 1796 leased a 50-acre tract of Moses Wright, while Butler Ranney leased the adjoining tract. In 1801 both Ranneys sold out. He then rem. to Saratoga County, as the Bible record is that Anson was born in the town of Milton in that county. About 1810 he went to Taberg, and after a year settled in Smithville, near .Adams. His aged parents went with him. When news came that the British had attacked Sackett's Harbor the militia were ordered out and Willett Ranney, Jr., mounted a horse to go to the defense of his country. The old man, inspired by a love of country yet burning in his bosom, and recalling his own experience in the Revolutionary army, said to his son: "Get off that horse and let me go." The son obeyed and Willett Ranney, Sr., over 80 years of age, mounted the horse and went as a volunteer. In a few years, 1818, the patriot was laid in the grave and the widow about 1821 followed. In 1826 Willett Ranney, no longer known as Jr., bought a farm in Redfield, and resided on it till 1831, when he went back to the homestead at Smithville, and on which he resided till his death in 1865 at the age of 96 years, at the home of his son Lester. Children:
133 John, b. Jan. 16, 1803. Lucy, b. 1804; d. young. 134 Sophronia, b. -, 1807; m. Reuben Drake. 135 Mary, b. , 1809; m. Volney Chamberlain. 136 Jeanette, b. , 1812; m. Dr. Sheldon Brooks. 137 Orville Willett, b. - 1814. 137a Lester, b. Sept. 29, 1815. ___________________ 59 Persis5 Ranney (Willett4, Willett3, Thomas2, Thomas1), bapt. April 2, 1773, Upper Houses; m. abt. 1800, Rome, N.Y., Samuel Jarvis, b. Sept. 16, 1768, Norwalk, Ct., son of Nathan Jarvis and Ann Kellogg. Nathan Jarvis, b. Feb. 2, 1737, d. Apr. 15, 1820, was the next older to Abraham Jarvis, b. May 3, 1739, d. May 13, 1813, Episcopal Bishop of Connecticut. Samuel Jarvis, member of Masonic lodge, resided in Camden, N.Y., until after the birth of Angeline, when he rem. to Norwalk, Ct. Later he ret. to N.Y. State and d. Jan. 10, 1853, Theresa, N.Y. The widow d. there Dec. 3, 1866. Children:
Hannah, b. -, 1802; d. Mar.27, 1855; m. Dr. Ira Wright. Willett Ranney, b. -, 1803; rem. to Pittsville, Wis. Ann Eliza, b. -, 1804; d. May 27, 1902; m. Dudley Chapman. Mary, b. Sept. 13, 1806; d. Sept. 17, 1841; m. Geo. M. Foster. Child: Sarah Conant, b. Dec. 14, 1832; m. 1871, Dr. L. Hannahs as his 2d wife. Widow res. Theresa, N.Y. Angeline, b. -, -, 1808; d. Mar. 13, 1866; m. Reuben Knapp. Augusta, b. -, -, 1811; d. Apr. -, 1887; m. Harrison Miller. Harriet Amelia, b. -, -, 1818; d. Aug. 27, 1870; in. 1843, Dr. L. Hannahs. He m. (2) Oct. 4, 1871, Sarah Conant Foster. Supra. ___________________ 60 Butler5 Ranney (Willett4, Willett3, Thomas2, Thomas1), b. , -, 1780, probably New Lebanon, N.Y., rem. as a child with his father to Fort Stanwix, now Rome. In 1802 he m. Orva Heth or Heath, and moved, 1808, to Redfield, Oswego County. Later he moved into Jefferson County, where other brothers resided. In the war of 1812 he kept a public house in Adams and later moved to Watertown, where he resided in 1818, in Sept. of which year the first Jefferson County Fair and Cattle Show was held in Watertown. The officers and guests of the Society took dinner at his house, where extensive preparations had been made for their entertainment. Among the distinguished guests present were Gov. DeWitt Clinton, Gen.. Stephen Van Rensselaer, and James LeRoy Di Chaumont, president of the Society. Among the features of this fair Noadiah Hubbard, a native of Middletown, Ct., with Col. Harris, exhibited a cart drawn by 15 yoke of very fine fat cattle, the product of their farms. Butler Ranney was a universal favorite. He d. Feb. -, 1854, Watertown. Children:
Minerva, b. - -, -; m. James V. Hickey. 138 Norman, b. - -, - Cornelia C., b. - -, 1812; d. Oct. 14, 1892; m. Sept. 1841, John Clarke, an eminent lawyer of Watertown. Children: Cornelia S., b.-; m. 1871, Fredk Seymour; Helen Minerva; d. infant. Delia Ann, b.-; m. David L. Seymour supra. Children: Allan McCutcheon, Frederick, Thomas N., John C., Harriet Allan, b. - -, -; m. Eugene Robinson. ___________________ 61 George5 Ranney (George4, George3, Thomas2, Thomas1), b. June 9, 1746-7, East Middletown, Conn.; m. (1) Jan. 21, 1771, East Middletown, Conn., Esther Hall, bapt. Jan. 9, 1751; d. Mar. 3, 1807, dau. of Capt. Samuel Hall; (2) Aug. 8, 1809, Ashfield, Mass., Alithea, widow of Oliver Patch. She died Aug. 6, 1827, aged 76. He died Jan. 14, 1822, Ashfield, Mass. (See the Hall Family.) In early life he was in the West India trade. Rem., 1780, to Ashfield, Mass., and purchased from Lamberton Allen a 100-acre farm, most of which was a forest, and built a log house. He was a man of industry and perseverence. With the help of his strong boys he accomplished the task and brought up a large family. In 1798 he erected a two-story house on the new road to the Plain village, seen herein. For 40 years he was identified with the growth and prosperity of the town. He was a member of the Cong. ch. Children:
Sarah, b. Dec. 20, 1773; d. Feb. 11, 1774. 140 Jesse, b. Oct. 13, 1775. 141 Joseph, b. July, 1777. Hannah, b. Oct. 3, 1781; m. Dec. 4, 1800, Abiathar Philips; 12 children; d. July 28, 1857. 142 Esther, b. Mar. 5, 1784; m. (1) May 3, 1804, Benj. Jones, who d. Sept. 20, 1804; m. (2) Forest Jepson. Re d. Sept. 20, 1844. She d. Aug. 23, 1862. Anna, b. June 20, 1786; m. Nov. 27, 1806, James McFarland; 4 children. 143 George, b. May 12, 1780. ___________________ 62 Thomas5 Ranney (George4, George3, Thomas2, Thomas1), b. July 6, 1749, East Middletown; m. May 28, 1778, Chatham, Conn., Mary (Johnson) Mighelles, widow of John Mighelles, who died of smallpox, Feb. 7, 1776. Rem. abt. 1792 to Ashfield, Mass., where he died Apr. 20, 1823. She died Oct. 5, 1819, 72 years old. She was the daughter of Thomas Johnson of Upper Houses. (See Johnson Lineage.) Children:
Catherine, b. - -, -; m. Jan. 1, 1799, Wm. Belding. 144 Roswell, b. Nov. 22, 1782. 145 William, b. June 30, 1785. ___________________ 63 Francis5 Ranney (George4, George3, Thomas2, Thomas1), b. Apr. 19, 1753, East Middletown, Conn.; m. Feb. 16, 1773, Rachel Hall, b. July 29, 1753, Chatham, Ct., dau. of Capt. Samuel Hall. Rem. 1786, to Ashfield, Mass., where he died Apr. 7, 1804. It is tradition that he was a Rev. soldier. (See the Hall Family.) She d.-, 1827. Children:
146 Giles, b. Aug. 17, 1773. 147 Daniel, b. - -, 1776. Betsey, b. - -, -; m. Feb. 17, 1802. Ruth, b.- -, -; m. Josiah Wells. 147a Luther, b. Sept. 6, 1785. Rachel, b.- -, -; m. -Eastman. Lucy, b.- -, -; m. Enos Bush. ___________________ 64 Mary5 Ranney (George4, George3, Thomas2, Thomas1), b. June 22, 1757; d. Aug. 17, 1841; m. July 1, 1779, E. Middletown, Nathaniel6 Bosworth, b. Apr. 12, 1753, Warren, R.I.; d. Mar. 12, 1844, Berlin, Vt., son ofJonathan5 Bosworth and Mary Humphrey, who were m. Mar. 19, 1748. Nathaniel was the second of nine children. Child:
[Bosworth Lineage-Edward1 and Mary Bosworth came in the ship Elizabeth in 1634. Five children. Nathaniel2 Bosworth, b. 1617, England; m. Bridget Lobdell, widow of Nicholas. Had nine children. John3 Bosworth, b. 1656; m.-, Sarah -. Had eight children. Edward4 Bosworth, b. 1689; m.-, Mehitable -. Had ten children. Jonathan5 Bosworth, b. Sept. 1, 1727. Nathaniel6 Bosworth served in the Revolutionary army. Was taken prisoner on Delaware River. Believing they were being poisoned several slipped down the cables and swam three miles before landing. They were given a breakfast by the widow of a soldier who had been killed in battle. After some days they reached camp. After his marriage he rem. to Lebanon, N.H., and again enlisted and experienced the smallpox. In 1795 he settled in Berlin, Vt., as a blacksmith.] ___________________ 64a Jonathan5 Ranney (George4, George3, Thomas2, Thomas1), b. Sept. 3, 1765, East Middletown; m. Feb. 26, 1786, Sarah Parsons, b.- -, -, d. Feb. 3, 1853, aged. 87 years. He was one of the original members of the Episcopal Parish organized Sept. 24, 1788, in what was then Chatham, now Portland, Ct. He inherited the (Hale) homestead, the other brothers having gone to Ashfield, Mass. He d. of consumption, Dec. 27, 1832. Children:
Nancy, bapt. June 24, 1789; d. Nov. 29, 1814. 150 Reuben, b. Feb. 19, 1789. Lucretia, bapt. Sept. 8, 1793; m. Mar. 24, 1825, Lyman Rose of Granville, Mass. George, bapt. July 15, 1798. Hannah, bapt. Oct. 6, 1801. Harriet, bapt. Oct. 6, 1801; d. June 9, 1870; m. Russell Bell; 3 daus., 2 sons. Jonathan, b.- -, - ___________________ 65 Comfort5 Ranney (Nathaniel4, Nathaniel3, Thomas2, Thomas1), b. Dec. 19, 1759, Upper Houses; m.- -, -, Ruth Treat. (See Treat family chapter.) There is no record of his marriage, nor of the birth of his two sons. He served in the Rev. army. His home was beyond that of his father's, and he built a house on his father's land. A plot of this property made at the time of his father's death shows the location of the house. The Baptist church was organized in his house, Feb. 6, 1802, and he was an original member. Re purchased of the other heirs their shares in their father's homestead, then sold out and in 1808 or 1809 started for the Western Reserve of Ohio, where he had made purchase of a homestead. He d. in Buffalo. enroute for Ohio. The widow m. (2) in Stow, 0., Feb. 22, 1810, Phineas Perkins and d. before 1812. Children:
___________________ 66 William5 Ranney (John4, John3, John2, Thomas1), bapt. Sept. 14, 1756, East Middletown; m. Sept. 26, 1779, Woodstock, Ct., Abigail Bacon. He served in 1775 from Woodstock in the "Lexington Alarm," and later from Chatham, his home. There s no further record of him. Child:
___________________ 67 David5 Ranney (Jeremiah4, Richard3, John2, Thomas1), b. Dec. 1, 1754, East Middletown; m. - -, 1783, Priscilla Rathbun, who d. Nov. 27, 1829, aged 73. From Chatham Land Records, Vol. 2, page 252, recorded June 4, 1782: "The Bearer, David Ranney, soldier of the 1st Connecticut Regt., having faithfully and honorably served in the Regt. three years the Term of his inlistment & for the last year has been in Virginia with the Marquis de la Fayette & at the Taking of Lord Cornwallis & his time having expired two weeks before his return is hearby Honorably discharged. "Given under my Rand this 4th day of December, 1781. Thos. Grosvenor, Lieut. Coll. of the 1st Regt. In 1801 he was pensioned at $60 a year. Died Apr. 1, 1813. Inventory included: One Bible .60 Shoemaker's tools 5.00 Pewter cups & plates 1.76 1-4 of 7 A of land 18.00 1-2 of D. H 75.00 Children:
David, bapt. July 1, 1798; m. Oct. 28, 1819, Susan Handy. Children: David Handy, Daniel, Huldah, Susan. Supposed to have rem. to Ohio. ___________________ 68 Jeremiah5 Ranney (Elijah4, Richard3, John2, Thomas1), b. May 5, 1769, Granville, Mass.; m. Alice -. Rem. to Waterville, N.Y. First to sign covenant at organization of Baptist ch. Apr. 14, 1798, and the first deacon. He d. Sept. 23, 1835; she d. Nov. 18, 1833. His mother resided with him and died there. She has tombstone there. Children:
Asenath, b.- -, 1807; d. Sept. 4, 1825. Nancy, b.- -, 1809; d. - -, 1811. Silas, b.- -, -. Rem. to California. ___________________ 68a Ebenezer5 Ranney (Elijah4, Richard3, John2, Thomas1), b. May 25, 1776, Blandford, Mass.; m. Feb. 23, 1800, .Almeda Bartholomew, b. July 26, 1781, Goshen, Conn., dau. of Oliver Bartholomew and Anna Lacy. At age of 21 he rem. to Waterville, N.Y., the home of his brother Jeremiah, thence to Augusta, N.Y., where he cleared an extensive tract of land, making potash of the ashes. In 1832 rem. to Valley Mills where he purchased a saw mill and erected a woolen mill, and d. there Apr. 12, 1860. In early life he became a Baptist and organized a society in Augusta; at his own expense rebuilt the mission church at Valley Mills and preached in it many years. Said to have served at Sackett's Harbor in war of 1812; wife resided at Watertown, N.Y., at time of marriage, and d. June 19, 1868. Children:
Dorcas, b. Nov. 28, 1803; m. Zacharias Lewis. Children: John, Franklin, Eugene, d. Feb. 20, 1875. 154 Hiram, b. Nov. 23, 1805. Ebenezer, b. Apr. 3, 1809; m. Betsy Calkins and died July 5, 1868. 155 Anson L., b. June 21, 1811. 156 Oliver Russell, b. Jan. 6, 1816. 157 Almeda Pamelia, b. Mar. 27, 1820; m. Wm. W. Bingham. ___________________ 69 Rufus5 Ranney (Elijah4, Richard3, John2, Thomas1), b. 1779, Blandford, Mass.; m. Dolly D. Blair, b. 1780, Blandford, Mass. Res. on old farm till 1824, when he rem. to Freedom, Ohio., where he cleared four acres, built a cabin, and for a year they lived on the game killed. He d. Oct. 29, 1849, at Freedom, Portage Co., 0. She d. Dec. 7, 1848. Children:
William Milton, b. Sept. 16, 1807; d. May 16. 1828, unm. 159 Rufus Percival, b Oct. 30. 1813. 160 John Lewis. b. Nov. 14, 1815. Harriet E., b. - -, -; m. Wm. R. Sherwood. Nancy C., b. June 20, 1820; m. Marshall Mills; d. July 31, 1849. Four children. Mary L., b. May 24, 1825; d. July 17, 1900; m. Milton Marcy. Dolly 5., b. 1827; d. Sept. 8, 1857; m. -Scott. ___________________ |